HAMMOND — Peyton LeJeune hit three home runs during No. 5 McNeese's 54-game regular season, but the senior from Church Point, La., rocketed a pair of two-run home runs at opposite ends of Alumni Field, highlighting a 6-2 Cowboys win over No. 8 UIW Wednesday evening at the Southland Baseball Championship. 

The win marks the Cowboys fourth straight against the Cardinals in postseason play since the 2022 Southland Baseball Championship.

Alexis Gravel secured the win on the mound for McNeese, pitching six innings with two earned runs on three hits with three strikeouts. Cameron LeJeune earned his sixth save of the season in three innings with no runs on four hits. 

Isaiah Zavala sustained the loss for UIW in 5.2 innings of action, allowing four earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts. 

P. LeJeune's two homers bookended a perfect three-of-three day in the box and additonal on-base appearance from a walk. Chase Keeton went two-of-four at the plate while Elliot Hebert and Conner Westenburg both drove in a run for the five seed.

Southland Newcomer of the Year Dalton Beck went two-of-five for the Cardinals while Dylan Calabrese went one-of-four with an RBI and a run. Cameron Caley reached three times on walks.  

McNeese opened the game's scoring in the bottom of the third inning after a quiet two innings to start. Westenburg scored Larranaga on a sacrifice fly before Hebert brought home Cooper Hext on a double to left center. 

UIW had its response at the ready in the top of the fourth. Calabrese doubled down the right field line, bringing in Rey Mendoza. The outfielder would score on a sac groundout and the Cardinals evened the score. 

But P. LeJeune's bat provided the only necessary utensil to write the conclusion to the game. The senior rocketed the go-ahead shot deep to right in the sixth inning and sent another to left center in his next plate appearance in the eighth. 

The Cardinals loaded the bases twice in the seventh and ninth innings. However, C. LeJeune maneuvered his way out of the jams, keeping the Cowboys in the winners' bracket. 

UIW will take on No. 1 Lamar in an elimination game Friday and the winner will face McNeese later in the day. The Cardinals beat the Southland regular season champion 6-3 on Wednesday.